Angels of Humility: A Novel (42 page)

“I wouldn’t have been nearly as scared if I could have seen my angels sitting next to me in the car.”

“Sarah, My Word clearly states that all believers have a guardian angel with them; unfortunately, very few ‘believers’ really believe the Bible. If they did, life on earth would be totally different.”

“Look at you with your cookies and your sweaty armpits, shuffling up to the jail that first day. I was so proud of you! Even though you were only able to minister there for a short time, you made a bigger impact than you know. Even the men who never seemed responsive wondered what motivated you to keep coming back. During the day they were macho braggarts fighting for dominance among the other inmates, but at night when the lights were off, they were scared little boys looking for answers to make their pain go away.”

“Lord, who will be the chaplain now that Paul’s gone? And what about

William?”

“I’m moving Ricky Beech from Kansas to be the new chaplain. He’s a former inmate himself so he understands the men. Most importantly, He understands My love
for
Him so He can effectively share My love
with
them. He will reap the harvest from the good seed you sowed with your cookies and prayers. And yes, William will be saved.” This news caused Sarah to let out a big whoop and leap for joy.

As the pages continued to turn, the Lord stopped to comment. “Sarah, here you are at the Manor, in your wheelchair. You were looking out the window, wondering if praying in tongues was having any kind of an impact.” She saw Bob riding his motorcycle in Oklahoma.

“Sarah, you thwarted the enemy’s plans to take his life. He did receive My salvation that Sunday. Look deeper into the page.” Sarah watched as angels appeared behind an elderly woman shuffling down the street, protecting her from a mugging. Sarah was too stunned to speak. “Look deeper. Because you prayed in tongues, a premature baby survived and a grandmother, who was raising her three grandchildren alone, was healed of cancer.”

“Lord, did that all happen in that one day?”

“Praying in the Spirit is powerful; all that happened in that one 20-minute session in your wheelchair by the door.”

The last few pages concluded Sarah’s time at the nursing home. “Sarah, having a good attitude during adversity is something you can only do when you totally submit to Me. Many of My faithful servants descend into anger toward Me at the end of their lives. They accuse Me and fall right into the enemy’s trap.”

“It took me a little while to understand that, didn’t it?”

With a huge smile on His face, He grasped her around her waist and threw her up in the air like a father with a toddler. He shouted with joy, “It’s all forgiven, Sarah; everything you confessed is forgiven. I have unlimited mercy, and I love, I LOVE, to lavish it on My children.” Sarah’s mind no longer rejected truth, but absorbed it immediately. She celebrated this revelation.

“Now look at you on the day you said yes to the Holy Spirit and surrendered the last of your pride and resentment. The impact of your life and your prayers exponentially increased. You started stepping out into your prophetic gifting again, in spite of past hurts. I was so proud of you. You encouraged so many at the Manor with My loving words flowing through your mouth.”

She looked into the page and saw herself reaching out to lay a shaky hand on the shoulder of the woman at the breakfast table beside her. “Sarah, every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, when the aide was rolling you back to your room, you reached out and patted Ethel. Her disease would not even allow her to respond with a smile. Since she was so nonresponsive, all the staff and patients totally tuned her out, but she still hungered for and needed love and companionship. The only thing she looked forward to each day was those three pats from you after meals. You were truly My hands reaching out to her.”

“Lord that was such a little thing. It took absolutely no effort.”

“Did you read in My Word that God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for His sake?
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You fulfilled all the works I had for you to do while you were there. You encouraged patients and staff alike. You led many patients to Me who will soon be joining us, and your prayers ensured that a witness will continue at the Manor for years to come.

“And look here,” He said, His voice climbing in excitement. “This is My faithful, but discouraged Bible translator, Lori Garcia; your prayers gave her the stamina she needed to continue translating the New Testament for a northeastern Iranian minority tribe. Up until this time, the Jamshidi had never had a copy of the Scriptures. You’ll share in the reward for the transformation of that village.”

Malta turned the next page. “Look at you in bed at night, unable to sleep because of the pain. You turned those times into sweet intercession instead of complaining. You could have been angry with Me because I didn’t respond the way you wanted, or you could have easily worked yourself into a severe depression. Instead, as you prayed by your rotating globe, the flames of Holy Spirit fire settled onto the different countries you prayed for.”

“Sarah, you still don’t really realize that your prayers had an impact not just in Bradbury, not just in Missouri, not just in North America, but all around the world. In some way, sometimes little and sometimes big, your diligent intercession touched every continent. And the best news is that your impact is still being felt even though you aren’t on earth anymore. People who accepted My gift of salvation will lead others into a relationship with Me. The benefits and blessings of your prayers will just keep going until I return to earth.”

“Now let’s see how you spent your money. Most of my children don’t realize that I prosper them to raise their standard of giving, not their standard of living. You altered your spending to live a simple lifestyle and sent most of your money to the poor. I know you toyed with having the inside of your house painted and purchasing new kitchen appliances. Instead you sent the money to organizations that helped orphans, child soldiers, widows, the persecuted, and the poor—the very ones who weigh so heavily on my heart.”

“Oh Lord, I’m so glad I made that decision. What difference does it make that my refrigerator wasn’t stainless steel or that the oven light didn’t work? I left it all back on earth.”

“As you can see now, it makes no difference. You did well when you chose to love people, not things. Here you are ready to buy a beautiful peach-colored orchid. You decided instead to send the $30 to India where it established a healing room. Because I will heal their bodies, many Hindus will find true healing of their souls.”

Matla was still grinning ear to ear. He flipped to the next page.

“Here you are at the department store putting back all the clothes you just tried on. You went to the Salvation Army instead and found what you needed for much less and sent $100 to an orphanage in Myanmar. They rescued this precious nine-year-old, Titux. His parents gave him to the army where he was taught to be tough, to hate, to kill. He will be loved well by my faithful workers at the orphanage.

“This page is interesting,” said Jesus pointing to Sarah sitting on her couch holding her check.

“Now that was tough. Fifty thousand dollars was more money than I’d ever had in my life! It was pretty easy to give the tithe, but the more I gave the less I had and the harder it got.”

“Where is that money now?”

“You’re going to show me aren’t you?”

“Let’s see how it was used.” Sarah leaned over the page, “Bancock, this elderly woman has rescued 18 women and children. They all live together in her two-room house. She’s not a missionary; she is a widow who lives by faith caring for those discarded by traffickers to die on the streets. She just keeps bringing them home. She was discovered by a missionary who will move this group to a dormitory-style facility built by your money. They and others will be rescued and restored through My love.”

“I meant for my children to run and play and be totally carefree, instead they are abused and exploited in the most horrendous way. Your money will provide everything needed to restore these beautiful ones to wholeness.”

“Oh, Lord, I can’t wait for them to get here. I love them already.”

“Sarah, when you prayed in tongues you didn’t know you were an intercessory abolitionists, partnering with Me to free my children trapped in the web of human trafficking. Some day soon the little children will rest in my arms. I am appreciative of your obedience.”

“Jesus you took my money and used it to help the most destitute, discouraged, and downcast on earth. Thank you for sticking with me until I gave it all.”

“To look after orphans and widows in their distress is what I call ‘true religion.’”
⁸
You invested your money well, Sarah. Your treasure is now in Heaven, not rusting away on earth. I’m so proud of you.”

He winked at Joel and Malta as He closed the back cover on the book, skipping the last page with the picture of the crown.

“Now it’s time to reveal your life’s work.” Joel’s fiery sword ignited her book. After the flames died out, the book was gone and in its place was a large, glistening, golden, jewel-encrusted crown. Sarah gasped; she could not comprehend its beauty. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful on earth!”

The lower circlet of the crown was lined with fur and composed of six gold segments joined together by hinges and set with precious stones that formed crosses and flowers. Four smaller plates showed detailed pictures in cloisonné enamel of the crucifixion, the keys of death and Hell, the resurrection, and His ascension. From the circlet, eight half-arches met at the top completely covered with 142 rose-cut diamonds, 18 brilliant rubies, and 8 large pearls. Behind the arches was the finest quality red velvet, on which hundreds of gems were set. On top, where the arches met, was a large sapphire, supporting a diamond-studded cross.

Sarah was astonished. She was so taken aback that she lost her footing and Jesus steadied her. “This must be a mistake!” This comment caused Joel and Malta to dissolve into gales of laughter.

“Sarah, the first 71 years of your life were washed under My blood when you trusted Me to forgive your sins. Then I gave you My righteousness as a gift. The sins you committed the last 16 months of your life—you repented of them all. We have no record of any sin in your life.

“We do have a record of the many daily acts you did in secret that so pleased Me. Not only did you prayer walk, Sarah, but your life was a walking prayer. Intercession was the tool you used to set many people free from the enemy’s clutches.

“Sarah, there are a few Christians who truly give themselves to intercession and service, but of those, there are very few who do their good works in secret, being content that I alone know what they do. You were one of those. You truly performed for an audience of One. And as much as you
performed kindnesses to the least, you performed those kindnesses unto Me. This is your crown, the crown of life referred to in My living Word.”
⁹

With her heart overflowing with inexpressible gratitude, Sarah, through tears of joy, looked at the glorious, jewel-encrusted crown, the representation of her life on earth. She was ready to lift the crown to cast it at His beautiful nail-scarred feet. Instead, she stepped closer to Him, brushed His hair to the side, and looked at the scars of love on his forehead left from the crown of thorns. As she touched a scar, she saw a vision of the soldier jamming the crown onto His head
¹⁰
and the blood running down His face. “Oh Lord, look what You endured for me,” she said, gently rubbing her fingers across the many scars. “Nothing I did, no sacrifice I made, is anything. I did nothing, and You did everything. You left this glorious Paradise and died for me.”

“Sarah, you were the joy that was set before Me for which I endured the cross.
¹¹
Love hung Me on the cross; desire for you kept Me there. You are My beautiful bride. You are the pearl of great price.”
¹²

“Thank You, Lord. I’m so grateful that You suffered for me and snatched me from eternal torment and gave me eternal life. I wish I had more to give You. I wish this crown was a million times bigger, a million times more glorious than it is. It pales next to Your great glory. Its worth is nothing compared to knowing You.”

In the background she heard and felt sweet music radiating from all directions, penetrating every cell in her body, “All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.”
¹³
She gently lifted the crown from its place on the altar and, on tiptoes, placed it on Jesus’ head. “I crown You King of kings and Lord of all.” She, Joel, and Malta all bowed before Him.

“Well done, Sarah, My good and faithful servant. Well done, indeed. You may enter into the joy prepared for those who love Me,” He said, pointing to an ornate pearl gate that went higher and farther than she could see. “Let Me show you the mansion that I have carefully and joyfully prepared for you.
¹⁴
I’ve been longing for this day when I could finally give it to you.”

Malta and Joel went before them and pushed open the massive gates. Jesus offered Sarah His arm and, staring deeply into His eyes of love, she grasped it. Together they walked under the massive arch. Jesus pointed down to the pure gold, transparent as glass. Sarah laughed, “It’s the heavenly pavement. What a revelation that was!”

Then her attention was drawn away from the beautiful walkway by voices—the happiest, most excited and ecstatic she has ever heard. Hundreds of people from every tongue, tribe, and nation run over the top of a grassy knoll, celebrating. They were jubilant—waving, leaping, laughing—and some were holding hands. Every face was a reflection of pure joy.

They must be angels coming to greet the Lord, but they don’t have wings
. Sarah was in awe, staring at their beauty and grace and especially their overwhelming, contagious joy. She immediately laughed, finding it impossible not to be swept up into their delight.